- ^ Cornell University Library S 534.I6P9V Supervised home project and club work. 3 1924 000 894 265 State Board of Education L Purdue University Agricultural Extension Department and States Relations Service U. S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperating Educational Bulletin No. 39 Vocational Series No. 19 Supervised Home Project and Club Work Issued under the direction of L. N. HINES State Superintendent of Public Instruction INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA PHEB8 CP B, BURFORO NnlrtNAPOl IS BOYS' AND GIRLS' CLUB WORK— WHAT IS IT?— COM- MON SENSE Membership in a Club Gives Boys and Girls Co-operative In- terest in Business of Farming and Homemaking By O. H. Benson, in charge Boys' and Girls' Club Work, U. S. Department of Agriculture. A farmer boy works ten hours a day, plows and cultivates the earth, feels no sense of ownership, has neither heart nor head interest in his work. THAT'S DRUDGERY. A farmer boy gets up early in the morning, works all day, has no partnership with father, no chance of recreation, is denied club fellow- ship, has no ownership in crops and animals such as corn, baby beeves, pigs or poultry. THAT'S TOUGH. A club member takes a few grains of seed, manages them thru soil, environment, insect and plant diseases, and produces vegetables, nets profits that win the prize at the club festival or the State Fair. THAT'S SKILL. A club leader tvrites a few pages of instruction on worthless pieces of paper, puts, them into the hands of a club boy, and thus guides him to a business profit of $50 in u single season. THAT'S A GOOD INVESTMENT. A club member may take an idle piece of soil, invest it with 30 cents' worth of seed, a dollar's worth of fertilizer, and a few hours of brain and brawn, and make a profit of $150. THAT'S CAPITAL BORN OF ACHIEVEMENT. Fathers and mothers maintain active membership in lodges, asso- ciations, societies, guilds, smokers, and unions, but fail to see the need of encouraging club work for boys and girls. THAT'S UNFAIR. To give boys and girls manly and womanly jobs, membership in a club of their own, feeling of ownership, an opportunity to do things, a real motive for study and achievement, a feeling of liability; in short, a co-operative interest in , the whole business of home making and farming. THAT'S COMMON SENSE. 'CONTENTS PART I PAGE Foreword 9 Club Supervision for 1919 11 Concrete Results of Club Work : 12 Points on Supervision 14 Holding Club Enrollment 15 Club Organization 17 Standard Clubs 17 Close Relationship between Project Work and School 19 School Credit for Project Work 21 Demonstration Teams 21 Social Aspects of Club Work 23 Importance of Club Records 25 PART II Vocational Project Work for 1918 27 Good Words from the Vocational Teachers 29 The Club Project and the Vocational Project 31 PART III The 1919 Club Round-Up 33 Short Visits with Indiana Club Leaders 35 Results of State Corn Contest 55 Results of State Pig Contest 56 (5> PURDUL .UNIVERSITY 5TRTE DEP 1 ! OF EDUCATION U.S.DEPT OF AGRICULTURE/ dcpt or A&RICIRTURRL EXTENSION DEPT OF VOCATiONRL EDUeRTION STR.TE5 REU1ION 3ERVICE-N&W. BUREftU OF ftKIMBL^ JNDUSTRV 51ME CLUB LEADER ft SS 1ST ft NTS r 8RNKER&\ Vmek's nssW S / / I AMD OTHER\ \f [ RGRlCUiTUMlJ 'COUMTY ft&ENf iHOHEDEttONSTRATORl .COUNTY SUP'l.y //officers f COUNTC frrh vBURErtU. \ \ FFIIR 1 RssociKTKWS/ \ORGRlJlZllTjW COUNTT CLUB LEftDER LOCAL CLUB UftDER % % *h LOCftL CLUB LEftDER LOCRL CLUB LEADER LOCRL CLUB LEADER CVV1B s> W Broker !,-«„ ,-ndiCuie. OT^-n, ia il „ »U„-„o Cm^ UUer i» e-m^e^ti 0) Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924000894265 FOREWORD The agencies co-operating in the organization and super- vision of boys' and girls' club work in Indiana are (a) the local community represented by the county superintendent of schools, the county agent, the home demonstration agent, the vocational teacher, the township club supervisor, the banker, the farmer, the merchant, and other interested per- sons, (b) the State Department of Public Instruction, (c) the Purdue University Agricultural Extension Department, (d) the States Relations Service of the U. S. Department of Agri- culture, (e) the Federal Board for Vocational Education, and (f) the State Employment Commission. No better evidence of the close co-operation of the above named agencies is needed than the fact that annually thou- sands of Indiana young people organize themselves into groups for productive club and home project work under the direction of these agencies and accomplish results that insure to the State intelligent, useful, happy citizens. In the following pages Mr. F. L. Kem, Assistant State Club Leader, tells how 27,152 Indiana boys and girls, during the year 1918, produced $363,833 worth of products at a net profit of $227,908. Z. M. Smith, State Supervisor of Agricultural Education and Club Work. 2—16576 (9) ]0 1-3 oa H 1 Total Total Cost Profit oo o 00 IO co o OS CM CO CM CO CM cs CO CO ■o OO o CS 1^- «!> 6s iO CO »o 6© co o CS t— io CM co CM o en i'o CO co -a* r- r- 00 co co IO iO CO o CD CO co CO co oo CO CO CO Cost Value Per Unit ; Per Unit - »o CO CO "3 1 CO -P OS s CC «1 a 3 o ft a 03 ft -r CO co bO "ft a. CO »o OS c c c c — c c c c a CO o => CO CO CO ■O O c CM a 'c CO -t cr CN m m t- cm t '5 c- CO Number | Total Completed Scope =3 CM a c c c r- cc C- : D cO CO o CM CM 1- CO v. CO c-'r '3, oo CO OS oo 'O o -* t— co o 00 CO CO CO co a o co c~ c- c~ is OO CO hi] 1 O « a) > o p o Cm 00 co — . CO ^f o »o o co CO as o OJ CM CO oo CM 1--" CM B'ff o c O bi c 'c c « b c a: > 1 c os t c. 1 PC ft o 0j cq > X. tr. a > Q D 03 Q o 03 c 1 "c o H 11 PART I Club Supervision During the year of 1918 the paid club leader again demon- strated his worth. Ninety-eight per cent, of the total re- ported results of project work as based on net profits were se- cured by those directly or indirectly paid for their services as club leaders. The club leaders indirectly paid include the county agents, home demonstration agents, and vocational teachers. Altho paid leaders are worth many times their cost, under present conditions it will not be possible for all of the town- ships of Indiana to include paid local leaders. The question of paramount interest just now is: "How can club work be carried on most effectively without paid local leaders?" The answer to the above question can be found in the ex- perience of Indiana and other States. Many States rely en- tirely upon volunteer local leaders and in many instances ex- cellent results are secured. Some guiding principles will be listed : 1. Organize small local groups as clubs. A scattered county enrollment must face a heavy handicap. 2. Club meetings must be held at occasional intervals if interest is to be maintained. The county agent need not at- tend more than few of these meetings. 3. Volunteer adult leaders should as a rule not be given more than fifteen club members to supervise. It is highly ad- visable that these fifteen members belong to the same kind of club. 4. A live-wire boy or girl of the community usually suc- ceeds admirably as a local club leader. Whenever possible use a boy or girl as a leader of a club. 5. Connect the club work as closely as possible with the farm bureau, breeders' associations or farmers' clubs. 6. Organize a county into township groups and have these groups compete as clubs rather than as individuals. Indi- vidual prizes may be used to stimulate the leaders among the boys and girls, but club competition will more nearly help along these two lines : (a) In securing enrollment. Require that a club must consist of at least eight or ten members. 12 (b) In stimulating all club members to complete their pro- jects. Require that a club must complete at least 75 per cent, of their projects in order to compete as a club. The boys and girls when this is done will care for the laggards themselves. By a careful adherence to the above proven practices a county agent can do creditable club work thruout an entire county with the expenditure of a minimum amount of time. There are certain things that he must attend to, however, and to disregard any of these is to greatly lessen the efficiency of the work. The counties that will have the best project work are those that will employ in each township at least one teacher, who, in addition to his or her regular teaching, will supervise club work twelve months in the year under the direction of the county superintendent of schools and the county agent. This plan has been tried with gratifying results. When meas- ured in terms of completed projects it has proven to be the most economical plan that it is possible for a county to adopt. Concrete Results of Club Work Supervised project work has to its credit the following salutary effects upon rural life: 1. Production is increased. In 1918, 17,923 projects showed a total value of $363,833, and a net profit of $227,908. The thing that makes club work of real importance in this respect, however, is its indirect effect upon future production. 2. Parents become interested in improved methods. In Madison County a landlord tried in every way to interest his tenant in advanced agriculture, but to no avail. As a last resort he gave the tenant's boy a fine gilt and insisted that he enter the pig club. This proved the entering wedge and in a short time the parent became more than mildly inter- ested, subscribed for a farm paper, and in every way became a more desirable tenant. No one knows exactly how many cases of like nature there are in Indiana yearly. 3. Boys' and girls' clubs are responsible for bringing to many communities their first supply of pure-bred livestock, in some cases speeding up the natural course of events by ten or more years. In one rich township in Tippecanoe County there is not a single herd of pure-bred swine. Quite recently ten fancy pure-bred gilts were distributed to as many boys and girls of the township. No one can estimate just what this will mean to this township. 4. Practical courses in agriculture based upon the home project method of instruction will stimulate a larger propor- tion of farm boys to complete the full high school course. In the average high school fully 50 per cent, of the boys enrolled never complete the full four years' course. That courses in practical agriculture will relieve this situation was shown by an examination of the school records of Union Township, Johnson County. Statistics have been compiled from the rec- ords of the Union Township high school covering a period of fourteen years. For the past four years home project work has been offered under the direction of capable teachers, with the result that the average loss among high school boys has been decreased 50 per cent. 5. Club work instils habits of doing farm operations by improved methods. In many parts of the State the results se- cured from text book instruction in milk testing, corn testing, treating seed oats and the use of balanced rations, have been checked. In most cases no appreciable results are noted, but the contrary is the case with the home project method of in- struction. There is all the difference in the world between merely knowing the use of balanced rations and using these rations in an intelligent way until the habit became firmly fixed. No man or boy can be said to really know that the use of acid phosphate pays until he has proved this by re- peated demonstrations. 6. Carefully supervised project work encourages boys to enter high school. In one high school in Grant County, with an attendance of 80 boys, 10 were enrolled who would have been out of school if this work had not been offered. 7. Intelligent club work carries with it most of the sug- gestions that have been made in years past for keeping the boy on the farm, as for example, creating an interest by lead- ing to a realization of the possibilities of advanced agricul- ture, giving financial interest in the farm business and fixing habits of good farm practice. It is not desirable, perhaps, that all farm boys remain in the country, but it is safe to say that if all farm boys were given a few years of carefully super- vised home project work, the country would save practically all the boys who are fitted by inclination for farming. 14 Points on Supervision Club supervision is quite generally regarded as consisting of visiting and encouraging club members. There is, how- ever, much more to supervision than this; just how much is difficult to state at present for the possibilities of this phase of instruction have been realized only in part. No club mem- ber should be visited without the club leader first planning on something definite that will result from the visit. Mere "visiting" with parents and club members is only valuable dur- ing the early stages of the work. Both the supervisor and the supervised will soon tire of this sort of follow-up work. When some carefully directed work is done during the visit such as testing milk, building a self-feeder, testing corn, rig- ging up a planter wheel for shallow cultivation, spraying po- tatoes, or fitting a calf for the club show, then it is that super- vision is most valuable. In arranging for this kind of work it will be necessary for the leader to make good use of the telephone and the mails, for the regular farm duties of the club member should not be disturbed. It is not necessary to wear soiled clothes in order to make a good impression, but, by all means, clothes should be worn that the supervisor is not afraid to soil. The club leader cannot afford to waste time shocking grain or mowing hay, but he should always be ready to help the club member when his services will be of more than so much per hour value. When pig club work is supervised the pig should be weighed at least once each month and the cost of gain de- termined. It is not at all necessary to wait until the close of the contest to bring the lesson of good or poor feeding home to the contestant. Pigs up to one hundred pounds can be weighed in strong burlap sacks by means of spring scales. When heavier than this a small set of platform scales should be carried by the supervisor. Practical points like the above apply to all club projects. A proper degree of interest from the parent is much to be desired, but at no time should the supervisor lose sight of the fact that he is dealing, or at least should be dealing, di- rectly with the club member. Unless this condition prevails the boy will lose both in education and interest. The success- ful club leader will do more or less general extension work with the parents and neighbors of his boys and girls, but 15 this should at no time be the main work of the club leader and should not be permitted in any way to interfere with the sup- ervision of the club members. The above points on supervision have been written mainly from the standpoint of a supervisor of boys' club work. Most of the points made apply to the supervision of girls' work as well. In supervising girls' work some special problems arise. Great tact must be used in entering the homes of the club members and suggesting changes in the routine of work. Girls' work yields advantageously to group instruction. Fur- thermore, volunteer leadership can be used to a far greater advantage in girls' club work than in work with the boys. Holding a Club Enrollment The one index of worth-while project supervision is the percentage of projects successfully completed. The common causes of loss of enrollment are here listed together with hints as to how experienced club leaders are meeting these diffi- culties. 1. Lack of understanding on the part of parents and club members concerning the requirements of the work. This is usually due to hasty enrollment. The "hand-raising" method of enrollment is to be discouraged. This method may be used to secure an expression from the children as to the degree of their interest, but it should always be supplemented with per- sonal conferences with both parents and club members. 2. Realization that the prize will go to some other con- testant. When this condition prevails it is a sign that too much has been made of the prize idea. The more successful club leaders consider the prize as incidental only. Interest aroused by large cash prizes is deceptive because great at first, but with a bad reaction in the end. When money is offered a large number of comparatively small prizes will give better results than one large prize. The cash prize is of most value when calves or pigs are exhibited at county or state fairs. But even then the cash should not be considered a reward, but rather as a refund of expenses incurred in transportation and in maintaining the animals at the fair grounds. The educa- tional trip is very largely replacing the cash prize in all parts of Indiana. 16 The club leader should at all. times preach and practice the doctrine of good losing. If this is done and the utmost care is taken that all club contests are decided fairly, then the prize idea will be of distinct aid in holding club enrollment. 3. The club member is too busy with farm or home duties to complete the project. The project must always be a part of the home and farm duties; it should never be an added burden. If in the end the project work does not make the farm work pleasant and profitable it will deserve the failure it will meet. 4. Failure to take care of the social demands of the club members. Boys and girls of club age are hungry for well planned outings, club meetings, hikes, picnics, club tours, and encampments. If club work does not supply this demand the interest and support of club members will be directed else- where. 5. Failure to keep records up to date. The only way to prevent this is to inspect the records of each club member at least once every two weeks. Merely asking if the records are being kept will not suffice. Records should be brought up to date at the time of inspection. Records are often lost. Every club member should have a letter file, which can be had for twenty-five cents, in which all records and club material may safely be filed away. 6. Failure to participate in club profits. This is a pro- lific source of disaster in club work. Friendly talks with parents will usually help this situation. An agreement signed by the parent is often used with good results. Club awards should never be given for animals exhibited by club members but owned by their parents. Insist at all times that at least a percentage of the profits should go to the club members. Harm can be done, however, by allowing the club member to share too largely in the profits of a project. The ideal arrange- ment is to have an account opened between the parent and the club member. The boy should receive his share of the real profits after all expenses have been paid and not the gross income from the project. Sharing of profits in girls' work presents a problem all its own which should receive the spe- cial attention of the supervisors of girls' club work. 17 Club Organization It is very easy to call the young people together, adopt a constitution and by-laws and elect officers. The real test is whether the young people are led to assume the burden of work and responsibility. A club organization directed en- tirely by adults will have a short life. When club officers are elected the leader should from time to time suggest duties and responsibilities for them to undertake. The club leader Boys and girls as leaders backed up by school officials and club supervisors. County Club Council. Pulaski should consult with the club officers on matters of policy per- taining to the work of the club. Pulaski County has made valuable progress in this direc- tion. Many leaders have been developed and the officers go about their duties with surprising confidence and ability. "Putting the responsibility upon the youngsters and making it stick" has been the key to the success. Standard Clubs There is a distinct advantage in the standard club idea. The requirements of standard clubs for Indiana are listed be- low and all clubs should strive to meet these requirements. 1. A standard club shall have at least five of its membership work- ing on the same project. 2. There shall be a local club leader in charge during the year. 3—16576 Three steps in community progress. Metz high school, Steuben County. 19 3. There shall be a local club organization with the necessary officers and duties. 4. There shall be a definite program of work for the year. . 5. There shall be held at least six regular club meetings during the year. The secretary shall be required to keep definite records of the meetings and also of the progress of each member. 6. A local exhibit shall be held annually. 7. There shall be a demonstration team which must give at least one public demonstration in the community. 8. At least 75 per cent, of the members must keep definite records on the official blanks provided by the State Leader, complete the project and file a final report with the local club leader, who shall report promptly to the county agent. 9. For district and state contests a judging team shall be chosen by competition between the members. 10. An achievement day shall be held within the year. 11. The club shall hold membership in the farm bureau or other county club organization. When the above requirements have been met a club charter will be granted. This should be framed and hung on the walls of the room in which the club meetings are held. Close Relationship Between Club Work and the Schools Boys' and girls' clubs have enjoyed a period of splendid growth in Indiana very largely because of the cordial relation- ship existing between the educational forces of the State and the agencies in charge of club work. Club work is related to the public school system of the State in the following ways : 1. More than half of the club leaders are teachers. The remainder is comprised of county agents, home demonstration agents, and volunteer leaders. 2. Many schools successfully use the club report and story as a basis of offering school credit. 3. More than nine-tenths of the club members are school children. 4. Class room and indoor laboratory work prepares the way for project work during both winter and summer, and project work supplements the class room and laboratory in- struction. 5. Colleges and normal schools have made and are still making preparation to train club leaders. 6. Trustees are now employing teachers on a twelve months basis with the understanding that they will supervise / The club tour can be made very educative and it always arouses much interest. Metz pig club tour, C. R. Hoffer, vocational teacher. Off to the tomato field. Tomato club members of Eaton. H. F. Brickley, vocational teacher. 21 club work during the year of twelve months in connection with their duties as teachers. School Credit for Home Project Work School credit for club work and home projects has been very successfully used by many school officials of Indiana. There are certain dangers attendant upon the use of rewarding club members with school credits, however, and these should be carefully guarded against. Credit for work indifferently done or incompleted should not be allowed. Practicums such as constructing a self-feeder, while good in themselves, do not have sufficient scope for school credit. A project should cover a normal phase of farm activities. It should begin where the activity actually begins under farm conditions and should continue until such time as a farmer would consider it completed. It should be sufficient in scope to require the amount of time profitably spent that is required for credit in any standard subject. The Indiana State Board of Education has approved the giving of credit for home project work on the following con- ditions : 1. A competent teacher must be employed to give close supervision over the work. 2. The quality or grade of work done by the pupil must be con- sidered on the same basis as regular school work. 3. Each pupil must keep detailed records of- all items of cost and income. 4. The time spent on the project by the pupil must be considered on the same basis as school laboratory work. 5. Each pupil must submit to school authorities a full and com- plete report of his or her work on blanks supplied by the State Department of Public Instruction. 6. All records and reports shall be subject to inspection by the State Department. The giving of school credit on the basis as outlined above is to be highly recommended. Demonstration Teams Perhaps the most important word in all extension work is "Demonstration." The possibilities of demonstration work in the club field have only been partly realized. Each club plat should be a demonstration of the value of improved prac- tices in agriculture. H E -5 23 Fully as important as the above is the idea of demon- stration teams. The girls' canning demonstration team has already proved its worth in Indiana. Many important dem- onstrations remain to be taken up. Among these may be mentioned: 1st. Culling of hens. 2d. Testing seed corn for disease-free ears. 3d. Selecting seed corn from the standing stalks. 4th. Constructing an improved type of self-feeder. In all of the above the actual concrete material should be used by the young people in their demonstrations. One of the three members may do all of the talking while the other two assist with the work, or when advisable the mem- bers may take turns in making the explanations. Questions are asked at all times during the demonstrations. The dem- onstration team idea is a decided step in advance of talks on club work by either young people or adults. The county agent or home demonstration agent who wishes to explain club work to communities unfamiliar with the benefits of the work should take a demonstration team to these communities from some other part of the county where club work has been al- ready established. Little further explanation of the value of the work will be needed. Outlines for the various demonstrations are now available. In any demonstration the following points should be held in mind: 1. The demonstrators should not commit their parts. 2. They should say "we do" instead of "you should." 3. They should not "bluff," but admit frankly if they do not know. 4. They must have a wide range of information on their subjects. Social Aspects of Club Work The growing value of the social aspect of Indiana club work has already been mentioned. It is deemed so im- portant as to bear repetition with added details. Rural com- munities are as a rule weak along the line of furnishing whole- some amusement for their young people. Towns and cities have made much greater progress in this direction. They have their Boy Scouts, Campfire Girls, Y. M. C. A.'s, and Y. W. C. A.'s. In the future some agency will look after the social needs of rural young people. Club work is already es- tablished in most communities and the agencies in charge of this work are admirably adapted to furnishing our boys and girls with a fuller and better social life. 24 Pulaski and Tipton counties held very successful county- club outings this year. In Pulaski County the three day out- ing was held on an island in the Tippecanoe River. Military discipline administered by the club members themselves was maintained and the camp spirit was excellent. The club mem- bers lived in tents, cooked their own food, and for the most part furnished their own amusement. This was the second year for this outing and the club members voted unanimously for another outing for next year. Their only request was that an added day of fun be given them. Needless to say Club picnics should be much more common. Warrick County canning club picnic on the Ohio River. only club members in good standing are allowed to participate in these outings. Tipton County held their very successful outing of two days at the beautiful Bishop Park, near Arcadia. Tipton County produced three state club winners this year and their club outing is, perhaps, a reason, for this. Numberless club picnics have been held. At Silver Lake, in Wabash County, a township club picnic was held. Super- visor Williams said concerning this picnic: "Every club member is here and it is the first vacation many of these boys 25 have had all summer ; think what this swimming, rowing and general good time will mean to these young people." It is quite doubtful whether a county outing should be undertaken unless at least two days are allowed for the event. The club members are more or less unacquainted and, in addition, the club members lose all freedom of action if too many events are crowded into too short a time. When a one day's picnic is desired it should be held with a township club group. There should at all events be a minimum amount of talking and a maximum amount of fun. Well directed play is an end in itself and need not be bolstered up by anything. This club picnic held at Silver Lake, "Wabash County, was the first vacation of the summer for many of the boys. Thousands of Indiana boys and girls have no vaca- tion during the entire summer. Importance of Club Records There is no club work without club records. Well kept records are an essential part of the club program. From now on costs must be figured more closely than ever before. The boy who cannot keep an accurate record of a drove of hogs or a field of corn can hardly be expected later on to keep the more or less complex farm records that farmers are coming to con- sider necessary. When it is considered advisable to distribute pure-bred calves or pigs throughout a county without requir- 4—16576 26 ing that records be kept, the work should be carried on with the adults rather than the boys and girls. In no instance can this be considered club work. Records when accurately kept and carefully checked by the club leader from time to time give the best basis for follow-up work. When using club records recommendations for improvement are not personal opinions. The club record tells its own story. ^^m 27 PART II Vocational Project Work in Indiana for the Year 1918 Thirty vocational teachers during the year of 1918 en- rolled 1,464 boys in club and vocational projects; 1,143 mem- bers, or 78 per cent., completed projects worth $123,373.00 at a cost of $49,524.00, showing a net profit of $73,849.00. The average net profit per vocational project was $111.25 and $33.95 per club project. This report covering the work of thirty vocational teachers does not include the work of vocational teachers beginning work this fall or that of a number of teachers who were drafted during the summer and for whom substitutes could not be obtained. It is certain, in spite of discouragements on account of the draft, that vocational agricultural education has made greater progress this year than during any year since its installation in Indiana. As proof of the above the following facts may be cited : 1. This year the Indiana State Board of Education officially recog- nized the vocational work of the State as being on a par with the high school courses as commonly administered. A vocational four-year course is now outlined which leads to a commissioned high school diploma. A rural school may now hold a commission and offer only vocational courses for boys and girls. This ruling of the State Board is of the utmost importance in furthering the growth of vocational agricultural work in Indiana. 2. The number of vocational agricultural departments has decreased rather than increased during the past year, but this has been altogether due to the impossibility of securing trained teachers who would meet the requirements of the vocational law. There are thirty-three active depart- ments in operation now, but with a sufficient supply of teachers this num- ber could easily have been over one hundred. 3. The demand for the agricultural work has been greatest from communities near schools that are successfully operating vocational departments. 4. The schools from the villages and rural districts are now inter- ested rather than schools from cities and towns. 5. The school officials now want the vocational work for their com- munities, rather than the vocational money. 6. Several departments have been operated successfully for four years; many students are now taking their fourth year of the work. The vocational agricultural work, no longer an experiment, is definitely established as a department in many Indiana high schools. Vocational classrooms should be attractive and at the same time suggestive of Agriculture. Classroom of J. W. Ray, Greensburg. The Veedersburg vocational class take charge of a farm orchard as « class project. A. J. Hesler, vocational teacher. 29 Good Words from Vocational Teachers 1. "One very encouraging thing happened this fall at the opening of school. Every boy who graduated from the eighth grade in the spring entered the vocational agricultural department." H. F. Ains WORTH, Mt. Summit. 2. "Home project work must be made the most important phase of the vocational department." J. W. Ray, Greensburg. 3. "Practically all our boys and girls receive the profits from their projects." A. J. Hesler, Veedersburg. 4. "I feel that a vocational teacher or club leader is on the ground floor when it comes to co-operating with the parents along ques- tions relating to improvement of rural life. Many parents think it so uncommon that I take such an interest in their children thruout the summer." R. W. Covalt, Warsaw. 5. "I had very little trouble holding my enrollment as I visited all the club members practically every ten days." Edward C. Stair, Franklin. 6. "One hundred and twelve actually started the work and 93 projects have been carried near enough to completion to give reliable data. The 93 projects have involved a total production of about $40,000, representing an actual profit of $12,452.00." V. J. Banter, Owensville. 7. "Furthermore, in order to make the work most effective, I be- lieve the ultimate good must be the development of the club members themselves." C. R. Hopfer, Metz. 8. "Every boy under my supervision must do a superior grade of work; the projects whether corn, live stock or potatoes must be such that I am not ashamed for anyone to see them." Otis Calvin, Matthews. Tills Ley solved the forage proposition. Harold Aldrich of Metz, X Frank Meeks, Shelby County, winner in the state pig feeding contest. Gain over two pounds per day. .A 9. "When one of my boys went into partnership with his father in the Big Type Poland China business a neighbor said to me: 'Raquet, you are doing a good thing for them but you have knocked me out of buying their corn. I have bought the corn from that farm for years and years and now they will feed it themselves'." H. V. Raquet, Waveland. 10. "They are fine, deserving fellows and are much interested in farm work. More than that, they will always be farmers. We expect to give them all the help possible. E. L. Austin, Shelbyville. 11. "The interest the leader would have the boy or girl believe he feels can by no means be assumed; he must be sincere first and last, through and through." H. T. Blodgett, Cowan. 12. "One of the most interesting phases of project work is the project essay. Here the boy can express his own ideas in his own way." A. C. Norris, Fairmount. The Club Project and the Vocational Project While the club project and the vocational project are very much alike in many respects, there is a distinct difference be- tween the two which should be kept in mind by the person doing either or both kinds of work. First may be mentioned the difference in scope of pro- jects. One pig well fed is a satisfactory club project, but should not be accepted as a vocational project. Vocational students are as a rule older than club members and can take care of larger projects for this reason. Moreover they are specialists in the one line of agriculture and must put in in- tensive efforts along this line. In the pig club the ideal condi- tion is where the boy learns the first principles of pig feeding from club experience while under vocational age. When he enters a vocational department he should care for the entire herd of swine found on the home farm. An acre of corn suf- fices for a club project but a vocational boy should care for an entire field. Another difference is the length of period covered by the project. The club project in many instances is emphasized chiefly during the summer months. The vocational project in all cases extends the year round. Whenever possible this should also apply to club projects. The contest idea is emphasized in club work, but in project work with vocational students prizes are seldom offered and when this is done should be purely incidental in nature. Vo- cational students may enroll for club projects in addition to carrying on their vocational projects but the club project should not stand in lieu of the vocational project. With voca- tional students school credit in a large measure takes the place of the prize idea. . r l i - - — ~- * "— &- -- — r Z__ ^ K \ -* -o rlOt TOC ViZA teCI nan by- < QVN \ ' i \ ^ * i UlL x T ^ w^ ~i / ,.'- V ,/ Wk - *q y - \ -f~- ,\ ) ikK \ / ! ' \ \ --■ #?T 8 > r . , ■ i w+ — — — % i i — A ^ "^*- i * ^ "4 h * * % \ t __ — 33 PART III Boys' and Girls' Round-up Five hundred Hoosier boys and girls who attended the first annual round-up at Purdue demonstrated by winning their trips that they are among the leaders of the 26,000 Indiana youngsters engaged in club work. In one meeting at the round-up at which were approximately 350 boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 18 years, the limits at which they "The Round-up of the Round-up." Lunch time and play time for the 500 boys and girls. may engage in club work, a census was taken to find out how many were supporting the government financially as well as in the production of food. Here is what the census revealed : Fifty-eight owned liberty bonds, which they had purchased by their own earnings ; 109 had bought war savings stamps, and practically every youngster in the room owned thrift stamps. Thirty-three had started bank accounts with their own money. The census extended beyond this one phase ; it showed that 85 of the 350 owned pigs; 46 owned calves; 62 owned poultry; 26 were owners of sheep; 117 had made definite plans to at- tend college ; 176 had been engaged in club work for two years, 70 for three years, 9 for four years, and four for five years. An address of welcome by Pres. W. E. Stone was followed by an inspection trip over the university farm, where the visitors saw some of the best livestock in America. Separate sessions of the boys and girls were held, the boys receiving instruction in judging hogs, cattle and corn, while the girls were given instruction in canning and dress making. The State Corn Judging Team. Noble County boys win tbe I. C. G. A. corn judging trophy. boys were also given pointers on the best methods of prepar- ing seed beds, eradicating weeds, planting gardens, and the feeding and care of all kinds of livestock. To top off the instructional work state contests in judging corn, hogs, dairy cows, and eggs were given. Harold Schultz, twelve years of age, who was the 1918 champion corn grower of the State repeated by winning the Scott Trophy for the 35 best individual corn judge. Harold Henderson won the dairy judging contest, Gardner Crane won the egg judging contest, while a team of three boys from Noble County (Orr M. Lock- hart, Dale Gorsuch and Ethan Stangland) won the State corn judging contest for teams. Seventeen counties entered teams in this contest and the youths had been given months of care- ful preparatory drill. The girls received instruction in canning, sewing and bak- ing, and the members of the home economics department of the University and several from Washington gave instruction Miss Morton of Washington, D. C, demonstrates to the girls at the 1919 club round-up. in other lines of work. The round-up was not entirely de- voted to instruction and work ; the four-day session was made a real outing for those who attended. Short Visits with Indiana Club Leaders As a reward for faithful work C. R. Hoffer of Metz gave a banquet for all club and vocational members who had com- pleted their projects in a satisfactory manner. This plan of reward has several very apparent advantages over the com- mon practice of rewarding only the boys with exceptional rec- I r t i*Mh Ear-to-the-row project of Frank Lawrence, Wayne County. Note the difference in the hight of the ears. * .■>. -JM-A ,-■*. ■%m Frank Lawrence and father checking ear-to-the-row project. The constructive seed corn •producer of the future will practice ear-to-the-row work. 37 ords. The faithful boy working under handicaps deserves recognition. Every vocational student under the direction of Otis Cal- vin, of Matthews, bought a sprayer and sprayed their home orchards. This work was done as the laboratory side of their course in Horticulture. The State champion livestock judging team was coached by vocational teacher H. F. Ainsworth of Mt. Summit. The contest was a hotly contested one, 80 teams of three mem- bers competing. The winning team received a $250 trophy as their reward besides several individual prizes. Jubilant Mt. Summit gave a banquet to the boys who had brought honor to their community. Eleven Monroe County boys this year produced 1,003.9 bushels of air-dry corn on eleven measured acres, an average yield of 91.3 bushels an acre, a record which has never been equaled in the history of boys' corn clubs in Indiana. Other clubs have had higher individual yields, but never before have as many as eleven boys in one club harvested eleven acres of like production. The highest yield of 105.9 bushels was produced by How- ard Jamison, 18 years old, who was closely followed by Win- fred Binkley, 15 years old, with a yield of 98.6 bushels, and Carl Smith, 14 years old, who produced ninety-eight bushels. Six of the boys produced more than ninety bushels on their acres. The good work of the boys will live over into 1919. Before frost they selected enough seed to plant 100 acres or more of next season's crop, and they will expand their opera- tions. Credit for this splendid showing of the Monroe County boys belongs first to the boys themselves and then to County Agent Q. O. Rainbolt and officials of the First National Bank of Bloomington. County Agent Rainbolt noted last spring that the youngsters signing up for the corn club were hard pressed for seed corn. He told officials of the First ' National Bank about the difficulties the boys were experiencing and the men working together were able to solve the problem. Notwith- A Double Champion. Harold Schultz, Franklin County, state winner in the corn growing contest and also winner of the Scott Trophy corn judging contest. 39 standing the shortage of good seed it was possible to obtain high quality seed for each of the boys to have one dozen ears, enough to plant an acre. The phenomenal results speak well for the plan followed, and many Indiana counties may supply their corn club boys with good seed of high yielding strains for the 1919 crop. The vocational class of H. V. Raquet tells the following story of his Sow and Litter Club : "Of course, the big hit of the past year has been our Sow and Litter Club. I have the Brown's Valley Bank to thank for this club, for they furnished the money to buy six of the gilts. Five other boys secured five registered gilts. Nine of the boys had big type Poland Chinas. Every boy did well. The least number of pigs raised was five and the most was nine. Albert McCutchan is out for state honors; nine pigs farrowed, nine raised, and a cost of production and score equal to any. (By the way, Albert did win state honors.) The best part of all is that all except one of the boys are not only keeping their original sow but are keeping at least a part of their gilts. Four of the boys have decided to take up the breeding game and breed registered big type Poland China hogs. Three of the boys have already secured boars at good prices. Think what this means in the way of good hogs in our community." County Agent Russel East of Shelby County worked out a very successful plan for a pig club exhibit at the county fair. Preliminary township contests were held. Each township winner was given a cash prize of five dollars ($5.00) payable when he exhibited his pig at the Shelby County Fair. Each township was represented and the county winner, Frank Meiks, was awarded a trip to the Purdue Short Course. By feeding his pig an extra two months Frank became state win- ner in the pig feeding contest. It should be the aim and plan of every pig club that is or- ganized to develop into the sow and litter club as soon as possible. Since our state champion feeder, Carl Songer, set the pace for feeding we haven't gotten away from the idea Mae McCauley, Madison, decided to have o new dress. Etta Mae Hoffstadt, Supervisor. The dress finished. 41 but are getting to the proposition from another angle, namely, the sow and litter project, thus producing the pig to feed as well as learning to care for the sow and pigs. It was a cold blustery day last February when the offi- cials of the Farmer's State Bank asked me to consider a live- stock proposition. After reviewing the situation a committee was to locate at least twenty gilts ready to farrow. They were bought from Mr. H. B. Campbell, Williamsport, Indiana, and from Mr. W. B. Gebbart, our local breeder, for $1,400.00. On March 16th the great day was announced for Veeders- burg. Twenty big sows due to farrow in April were given away to the boys in the community, preferably to the ones who had had experience in pig club work. After the drawing, the sows were loaded into wagons and taken home. It was not long until the sows began to find pigs. One hundred and thirteen were raised, out of one hundred and thirty-three far- rowed. Every gilt was returned, forty in all, which was far beyond the expectations of anyone. On August 31st our annual school fair was held in Veedersburg. Two tents were arranged for the exhibits of farm products and livestock. Dean Skinner of Purdue was on hand to do the judging. Those great massive sows and such litters ! Without doubt these boys had done their job well. Dean Skinner was much pleased and commended the boys upon their good work. The bank offered seventy-seven dollars in prizes. There was a large gathering at this meet- ing and promptly at four o'clock the forty young gilts were given away to girls and boys. Now then, these gilts had to be bred. The executive committee arranged to attend the sales of our local breeders, Mr. John Reed and Wm. Gebbart, occurring October 9th and 16th. Our trustee, Mr. Carpenter, purchased a male at Mr. Reed's for $155 and Mr. Hesler a male at Mr. Gebbart's for $80. These pigs are now in serv- ice, one being kept at the southern edge of the township and the other at the northern edge. The pig club pays these keep- ers $25.00 each year for the keep of this hog and allows him to breed five sows free of charge. Probably one of the best things growing out of this pig club work was the organization of the Van Buren Township Junior Poland China Breeders' Association. This organiza- tion is now moving along nicely and busy looking after its members. There are seventeen original members left. They "Giant Big Bone" purchased by the Veedersburg Junior Poland China Breeders' Association at a cost of $175.00. "Queen" at seven months old weighs over 300 pounds. Walter Whitman, last year's » winner in the state pig feeding contest, repeats this year in the Duroc breeding contest. are very enthusiastic and now breeding their fine, large sows to Black Big Bone, an 800 pound boar purchased by the boys for $200.00. This association expects to hold a sale next year at which time the surplus boars and gilts will be disposed of. A. J. Hesler. Fairmount has never had the reputation of being an apple growing section. There is no commercial cider mill anywhere near the little town. Apples for winter use have been shipped in from Atlantic States, especially New York, Virginia and North Carolina. Three or four men have always grown ap- ples very successfully, so last winter my predecessor in voca- tional work gave Wilson Doherty as his project the acre or- chard to be pruned and sprayed. Wilson, at the time, was a Junior in the Township High School. He entered the project with vim and enthusiasm and to make a long story short sold enough apples from three trees to pay all his spraying expenses. He has been selling apples all fall to men and women who have equally as good orchards as his. Cider, vinegar, apple jelly and apple butter are some of the by-products obtained from his orchard. As a result of his success, the farmers all thru here are planning a more systematic care of their orchards next win- ter and spring. A fruit growers' association will probably be formed. Several new orchards have been planted and old ones made larger. The local hardware dealers are stocking up on pruning tools and spraying outfits. The drug stores are increasing their supply of Black 40, Arsenate of Lead, Bor- deaux Mixture, Fish oil soap, Lime-sulphur and other less popular sprays. Scarcely a day passes now that some one does not ask mc for information in regard to their fruit for next year — "Just the information which Wilson Doherty used last winter and spring." We are hoping that we may ship apples from Fair- mount several years from now. A. C. NORRIS. The Lincoln School of Washington Township, Allen County, had an acre school garden last summer. The girls of the school met from time to time and canned the beans, peas, spinach, beets and corn. The 344 quarts canned by Practical Farm Mechanics. Waveland vocational class, H. V. Raquet, teacher. The job finished, Waveland Vocational Class. 45 the girls are being used this winter by the domestic science class in preparing hot school lunches for the hungry young- sters, who in previous years have had to eat cold lunches from dinner pails. Club work developes leadership and initiative. The story of Hetty Howard, president of the Chandler Canning Club of Warrick County illustrates this point. The supervisor of this club followed her soldier husband to camp. The club minus their leader slumped for awhile but ambitious, energetic Hetty would not let the club die out. She held eighteen meetings during the summer. At these meetings parliamentary rules were followed, a regular program was given, and, afterwards, a social time was enjoyed. One morning the club took a hike and had breakfast in the woods. The club gave a social and made $18.00. Five dollars of this was given the Red Cross ; five dollars was given toward the expenses of sending a girl to the Purdue Short Course; five was used for entertaining the mothers of the girls, while the remaining sum was used for current expenses. Many former club members are now attending Purdue University. Their number will grow larger from time to time. Among the number enrolled this year for Freshman Agriculture are the following former state winners : Fred Thomas, Posey County; Samuel Evans, Clay County; and William Werner, Pulaski County. Last summer we visited a home near our school building, and, in course of conversation, we were asked to let our boys wire the house and barn as soon as school was in session. We suggested the idea to the class and the boys very eagerly un- dertook it. First, we measured up each room and then calculated the amount of wire and other materials necessary to do a finished piece of work. Next, we visited three houses in the process of being wired and studied the technique of the undertaking. The boys knew very little about electricity, so that their vocabulary was increased by over twenty words and expressions common to an ■. SlMjd&Jtomi iLj^rl JP^Igjf Hr''^^ ifcSii s ^»vS HKjI^t^r^'y^ - flff^ j ^&^*~*'2f|p HEftr"** ^3 .. ""**?■ :-. "»*>. . "^ MM * ™ Paul Kirkpatrick, Frankfort, and his well kept garden. C. L. Clayton, vocational teacher. The coats and sweater were made by the Madison girls, who are wearing them. 47 electrician, such as — volt, ampere, ohm, watt, wattmeter, post insulator, cleat insulator, push button switch, snap switch, loom, lamp cord, key socket, keyless socket, tube insulator, splice, fuse block, flat iron connection, electrician's tape, switch box, rosettes, meter loop and two way and three way switches. When we began, we had to explain each word very carefully. Before we finished the work, they used the words as easily as they did the words hammer, nails and screw driver. The house is an old one with many concealed timbers, which needed to be bored thru by a bit some four feet long. Great was the delight of the boys, when the current was turned on, to have every light burn perfectly. They saw how easily the smoky kerosene lamp could be relegated to the attic to rest among the maze of wires which their deft hands had placed there. The house is now equipped with lights in the barn, milk room, back porch, kitchen, two bed rooms, living room, dining room and front porch. A flat iron connection is in the kitchen and a motor will be installed later to pump the water used on the farm. Since we have finished this house, four of the boys have done similar pieces of work, either at home or for some friend. It is a simple, practical exercise for the vocational boy study- ing farm mechanics. A. C. NORRIS. Printed Matter Printed matter in the way of rules, record books, and use- ful bulletins will be supplied by the Purdue Agricultural Ex- tension Department. The club leader is cautioned, however, against considering bulletins of too great value in project work. If results could be secured from the use of bulletins there would be no need for local supervision. Bulletins should not be mailed to club members. They should be presented from time to time during personal interviews, and their con- tests explained, commented on, and passages of unusual im- portance marked. Bulletins for the most part are written for adults and need considerable explanation to be of value in work with club members. The club member should not be confused with a number of bulletins on one subject. There are usually one or two bulle- Cecile Miller and Darold and Harold Fleming, winners in the Newton County calf club, 1918. Myral Smith, Tipton County, winner in the state canning contest. Her record was 1,100 quarts. 49 tins on a particular subject, adapted to the needs of the club members. Use these and no others. The club leader should keep a complete file of late bulletins, and also one or two of the better farm papers. Standard agri- cultural reference books dealing with specific rather than gen- eral problems are invaluable to the club leader. A list of these can be found by consulting Educational Bulletin Num- ber 27. Commercial concerns often furnish charts and slides of great value. Pictures of good livestock suitable for framing can often be secured from the different breed associations. The vocational and agricultural teacher should not over- look the publications of the Federal Vocational Board, Wash- ington, D. C. The publications of this board pertaining to agriculture should be carefully read by all teachers of agricul- ture. 51 Keep the Club Work Growing- Tune, "Keep the Home-fires Burning." I. There were Club Boys on the hillside, There were Club Boys on the plain, And the country found them ready At the call for meat and grain — Let no one forget their service, As the Club Boys pass along, For although the war is over, They are singing still this song: Chorus. "Keep the Home-cow milking,'' And the Club-corn silking, Tell the idle boys and girls We work for Home; There's a Club-pig growing, While the grain we're sowing, Boost the Club Work day and night, Till we "LIVE AT HOME." II. There were Club Girls near the roadside, There were Club Girls by the wood, And the country found them ready At the call for "fighting food" — Let no one forget their chickens As the Club Girls pass along, And altho' the "bugs" are many, They are singing still this song: Chorus. Keep the babe-chicks growing, While the rooster's crowing Tells the idle boys and girls We work for Home; Push the yearly garden While your muscles harden, Fight tomato bugs and blight TiU we "LIVE AT HOME." J. J. Murray, Clemson College, South Carolina. Club songs and club yells should be in evidence at all club meetings. The above is given as an example of how words can be given a popular air. Club songs can be supplied by the Club Division. A model hen house as the result of poultry club work. Lawrence Tucker, Whitley County. Keller Beeson, supervisor. A laboratory on the farm. Roscoe Davis of Frankfort Vocational School checking up on his cows. 53 Jones and His Son Jim Jones and his son worked hard, folks said, But somehow never got ahead. The hogs got sick, and the land grew thin, And each year saw less corn for the bin — Till Jones' son Jim began to say He'd leave the farm for work that'd pay. But Jones' son Jim joined the Farm Boys'' Clubs — A Pig Club and a Corn Club, too — He Studied books by men who knew How to do the things Jim longed to do — And what he learned made him wish to stay And help Dad make the old farm pay. Now Jim and his dad are partners, too, On the same old farm where thistles grew, But the hogs wax fat, and the bins are full, And never a day does Jim find dull, For he found the way that profits come; So Jim and Dad just make things hum. W. F. Fry, Crawfordsville Vocational School. Herschell Knapp, Clinton County corn club winner. Yield, ninety-six bushels. ».'iV.^^>jfc''"-^ r C^'.' r: r.i Dwight Iddings, Jefferson County, is glad to be recognized as a corn club member. One reason why Harold DePew was DeKalb County corn club winner. ::>;:> BOYS' STATE CORN CONTEST, 1018 District No. I. John H. Birk, St Joseph Co. . . . Floyd Shook, Whitley Co . . . . Ora Watson, Pulaski Co Darold Fleming, Newton Co . . . Niles Coplin, Marshall Co Walter R. Lee, Steuben Co Harold DePew, Dekalb Co Walter W. Jenkins, Steuben Co. H. Arnold, Newton Co District II. Allen Harper, Tipton Co Herschell Knapp, Clinton Co Paul Logan, Tippecanoe Co. . . . District III. G. Ray Griffith, Johnson Co Clifford Sanders, Shelby Co District IV. Harold Schultz, Franklin Co Dorothy Baker, Greene Co Harold Pirtle, Sullivan Co, . Howard E. Jamison, Monroe Co Thos. Brockman, Bartholomew Co .... Winfred Binkley, Monroe Co Aubrey Estell, Jennings Co ... District V. Johnson Emerson, Gibson Co ... Carl Bader, Jefferson Co . . .. . . Stuart Crooks, Spencer Co Paul Nugent, Jefferson Co Lawrence Schreiber, Jefferson Co H. Gordon Holcroft, Jefferson Co Each district contest was judged as a separate contest. When the five district winners were judged as a group Harold Schultz was found to be state winner. Highest yield, Dorothy Mae Baker, Greene County. Best ten ear sample, Clifford Sanders, Shelby County. Best story and records, H. Gordon Holcroft, Jefferson County. Yield Cost Score Ms-!. Total 75. S19.00 75. 94 90. 76.6 19.87 62. 92 89.9 83.3 18.41 64. 85 88.3 7.5 li 17.00 70. 86 87.1 76. 22.69 69. 86 84.7 67.5 16.40 58. 92 83. 55. 21.03 64. 94 82.3 92.9 19.67 60. 02 82.2 58. 17.40 63. 90 81. 2 93 6 17.96 67.6 92 90.2 96.3 19.41 68. 85 88.7 66 5 19 88 68 93 82.2 96.7 17.00 67.5 90 90 1 81 18 00 76. 89 88 2 105.8 22.91 71. 95 88.2 113 5 21 60 69. 85 87.9 102.6 18.20 65. 90 85.4 105.9 17.20 61. 83 85.1 87.2 18.00 68. 93 84.4 98 li 21.15 62. 85 83.9 58. 17.10 62. 88 73.1 80 18.96 65. 90 85 5 73. 20.30 67. 91 83.1 98. 29.15 60. 86 81.6 70.3 24.26 68. 93 80 5 65.9 22 23 63. 92 80 2 72.3 23.85 62. 96 SO 2 ■S I no &2 a a H « g M S£ -5S OSCC«OQ0Cst-I0000 00 * CM^4 CO COcDNNNNKJW UJOHHNOSOHINCO OOOCOOC OOOMr-OO CN i-( CN CO CM _ M O 5 Sy- 3 « fl o 3 .l2 =» » to 00 CO 3t^t- CO ©St— iO IOCS'*" CO OS CO ■OOlOOO cDiOiO^tf CO CO CO CO ocoa g 3 fc" J <5 OiOt~-lOCOC»I>-00 O!co^iooiosl>-oo OOOWNOOO CM«d?oooQ§i§tii 5dS««Sd • - c c lit ■? •- ONOOOLtM o ccc ID M OCOOhOicJ 1 N Tpt^— N *"* X C C ift M C: © r? coot Tf X h- rf Tt- N - t~ IS**?! rtea b- CS a ci l* — o c •£ C- "1 *? *1 ifl « -m — « X e& s c J. '"" — 5: x^i _ o — t£ 3 ri C ■ ■? ts ; S r - -- ' - ~3 £ - r i- t- - — u ' (_■ o n, -„ a — .7 CCC Q. .^aaf; 7 CI t~ l*- o ■O-fOO i" 4 x xo ^ r:^-<-f---r - — .— — — — • ■=. ■- K W ■>' i ti i^ ^ tt ? ? w 1 5.— c. iz!" +-*£ - ag= o ._ i, ~ t: •— c o a I— I St s '% c t/2 £°H C C i 1 j ■ss-.a. >: d > £ XNON SMM - -— -CI -r -t- x -f iC ci — - -r 01 x ic © e o o x ?i :•: 3 1- l-: Nf r.:i ?c — l- t- 1 - © x x — r. t- m m — t- c •IS 3 o S n + x fflOo-C 15 Disseminating Results of Club Work Publicity should be given after work has been completed rather than before. Inform the community of results. Supervised project work is comparatively new and must compete with many established institutions in securing the interest and support of the community. For this reason the wise leader will make public the results secured by his club members. The community is interested in what has been done rather than what is hoped will be accomplished. While the work is in progress the leader should be busy devising means and securing data to bring the results of ids work favorably before the public. A Story of the Boys and Girls Club Work in Fountain County r\ AS COMPILED B\ COUNTY AGENT McKINZIE AND CLUB LEADER HESLER AND PUBLISHED EXCLUS- IVELY IN THE FRIEND. FOUNTAIN COUNTY LEADS THE STATE IN BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB WORK CONTESTS The Mammoth Nov Boys and Girls Pavillion at The Covington Fair, the Only one or its Kind in the State, is Filled to Capacity with an Exhihil of which Everyone is Proud CLUB WORK AND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL GUY . WALDRIP. s beer common schools Foi sonw lime U «as only j mjiu.fc.ri icnn ,so« »t n»n> evolved a system that vitalize* the teaching!, of lhi= rubjeil It w to have the child do the things he was formerly told oboul Club work became a factor in our course of study and course of action The <|ui"M.ioii u( efficiency was raised concerning home [irojett work The only pructiuil way wan to have intelligent supervision not only dunnp the s< hool yi-ar hul ilurine the van- lion months. The Cuunly Club Leader wus soon a reality with Sua i own-, hip assiutani^ been the policy of this ofhee to assi-t the dob work in any way. through liool system We believe that the historv of the Buy" and r.irls rijl, , , .1111 County will justify -II the lime jnd ellurls that hull been >|i« .fi c 1- ' r >Y ilea ns of Disseminating Club Results. a. Many club leaders make very good use of the news- papers. "When a club member wins a county or state prize, when an unusual record is made, when club officers are elected, and when the year's work is completed — all such incidents serve as the basis of good newspaper stories. Many vocational teachers fill a column in local papers each week. The testimony of editors is that this space is eagerly perused by subscribers. Great care must be taken to see that only accurate information reaches the public, and, in most cases, it is desirable that the club leader write his own publicity material. 16 b. Seasonal window displays attract much attention from people who otherwise would know little or nothing con- cerning what the club leader is trying to do. A seed corn testing display in the spring, and in the autumn displays of fancy apples, good seed corn, attractive canned goods and sensible club garments will do much to acquaint the public with the value of the work. Placards are essential in any display but window displays should never consist principally of charts and placards. Often "make-up" exhibits showing phases of club endeavor can be used to good advantage. c. Many counties are using with good success placards: "Member of County Boys' and Girls' Clubs." The placards are nailed on gate posts and trees and serve as reminders to the boys and girls that they are engaged in worthy undertakings and are pledged to finish their projects. d. Corn, livestock, bread, and other judging contests adver- tise work among the young people themselves. Many boys and girls get their first enthusiasm for club work from participating in these contests. It is certain that the boy well trained in judging corn stands a splendid chance of growing corn successfully and the girl who can judge bread skillfully has already made great progress in the baking of good bread. e. Township and county fairs at which club products are shown serve as a splendid means of acquainting the pub- lic with the value of project work. County fair boards welcome the rejuvenating influence of club work. At the Bartholomew County Fair club work has been a steadily growing feature for years, while at the last Fountain County Fair there were exhibited in club classes 115 pigs and 32 calves in addition to good displays of poultry and culinary art. A splendid pavilion has already been erected in this county for the club display, but will of necessity be greatly enlarged for another year. The County Fair Association erected a pavilion for club ex- hibits exclusively and has completed plans for adding to this another pavilion larger than the first one. Township fairs are fully as successful as county fairs in creating interest. An attendance of 2000 in not uncom- mon at township fairs. It goes without saying that these fairs take careful planning and require co-operation of the highest order. Much of the detail work may be left to the club members themselves if they are carefully coached beforehand. Among the many successful town- ship fairs of last year may be mentioned Pendleton, Sum- mitville, Veedersburg, Metz and Owensville. 1 '^ P^ ft? ' i ^J&> I ^tf KT M. JSe "%. f^> i IL * - n 1 \**-» i I Jj| V, .''•^f( J Hm * ^| C^isi u tfft 5^1 VI Wm Km Ei points As a means of getting work accomplished club competition is worthy of much recognition, but as a means of developing boys and girls it warrants even greater attention from club leaders. Calvin Perdue, County Agent, remarked at the close of the above contest : "I think so well of this method of handling club work that I shall adopt this plan for the entire county for the coming year." Another county agent who secured good results from club com- petition during the past year is A. Z. Arehart of DeKalb County. The club work in DeKalb County is organized around four Farm- ers' Institutes held at different centers in the county. Each cen- ter organized a club group working for a pennant as a prize and the friendly rivalry developed was such that Mr. Arehart intends to enlarge upon the plan for another year. Of course individual prizes are offered in addition to the club prize. To sum up the advantages of club competition: 1. Team-work and leadership is developed. L\ There has been no better plan devised of getting club officers to undertake responsibility. 3. Emphasis upon rivalry between groups is better for the individual member than emphasis upon rivalry between individuals of the same group. 4. The member with a poor pig or who has had misfortune with his corn plot is as important in the final result as the leaders in the club race. This encourages the least suc- cessful member to finish in as satisfactory a manner as his circumstances will allow. 24 Standard Clubs Below are listed the requirements for a standard club. When a club meets these requirements and a charter is issued the mem- bers can feel that they are enjoying a distinct honor. Fifteen clubs received charters in 1919. Requirements'for a Standard Club 1. A standard club shall have at least five of its membership working on the same kind of project. 2. There shall be a local club leader in charge during the year. 3. There shall be a local club organization with the neces- sary officers and duties. 4. There shall be a definite program of work for the year. 5. There shall be held at least six regular club meetings dur- ing the year. The secretary shall be required to keep defin- ite records of the meetings and also of the progress of each member. C. A local exhibit shall be held annually. 7. There shall be a demonstration team which must give at least one public demonstration in the community. 8. At least 75 per cent of the members must keep definite rec- ords on the official blanks provided by the State Leader, complete the project and file a final report with the local club leader, who shall report promptly to the county agent. 9. For club representation in a state or district judging con- test, the team shall be chosen by competition between the members. 10. An achievement day shall be held within the year. 11. The club shall affiliate with the farm bureau or other county organization responsible for club work. County Organization The county superintendent of schools is the logical leader of club work in his county. He should invite and secure the assist- ance of the county agent, the home demonstration agent, the farmers' federation, and other persons and organizations inter- ested in community betterment. The plans for club work should be an integral part of the program of work formulated for the county. If corn growing, swine production, garment making and canning are projects included in the general program, then the club work can be made to function along these lines. In Untrained Fingers Become Deft Thru Flabby Muscles Become Hardened Thru Club Work. Club Work. 20 other words, the outstanding problems of a given community or of a county should lie determined by the people under the leadership of their authorized committees and the club activities should contribute directly to the solution of these problems. An effective organization for formulating and executing the program for club work will include the county superintendent of schools, the county agent, the home demonstration agent, the I - - 1 V I h A "•""plllfj m 1 Wm ^— ~-23?i ^^^^^ t— Etta Ma; Hoffstadt, Club Supervisor. Madison, Starting on a Ten, Mile Tramp to Visit Club Members. farmers' federation, vocational teachers, a county club leader, township club supervisors, and other community organizations. The county superintendent of schools and those acting on the committee with him should draw up a complete statement of the plans for club work. The club projects to be worked out should be listed and the activities for each month in the year should be outlined. The membership of the general committee in charge and of subcommittees should be given. Prevision should be made for a county club leader, for a super- visor in each township, and for financing the work. The county 27 leader and the township supervisors should be qualified by train- ing, experience, and natural aptitude to give the club members tin- instruction and supervision necessary from time to time 1o insure the successful completion of the projecls. The Vocational Project and ihe Club Project The home project work done by vocational pupils is a part of the supervised practical work which forms an important part of the course of instruction given in the school. If a vocational pupil who has swine production for his home project becomes The City Cousins Visit Country Cousin. a member of a swine production club in his community, partici- pates in the activities of the club, places his animals, his records, his story and his reports in competition with those of other mem- bers of the club, then his is both a vocational and a club pro- ject. In like manner would be classified a baking, canning, sewing, corn production, or other project. A vocational class might have a project in orchard care and management. This class might organize as a club, hold meet- ings, keep records, make reports, and enter its exhibits in com- petition with those of another club. In this case we have a class project which is also a club project. 28 A boy or girl not a member of a vocational class might com- pete with boys and girls in vocational classes. The fact of en- tering into such competition does not make the project of the non-vocational boy or girl vocational. In this case the project is a club project only. Project work is required of the vocational pupil. Club work is optional with those who participate. Club work is an excellent means of interesting boys and girls in vocational work in high schools. By means of club work, many pupils under fourteen years of age have become interested in their high school and have been induced to enter the vocational department after grad- uation from the elementary grades. Miriam and Martha Davis of Madison at work on their gowns. Vocational home economics pupils in many cases have taken great interest in competing with each other and with non-voca- tional pupils in projects such as the following : food preservation, specialized cookery, family sewing, care and repair of clothing, care of a room in the home, care and use of milk. The following brief accounts of work in vocational home eco- nomics departments in a few high schools in Indiana reveal the interest which girls and their parents have in the project work. Warsaw The vocational department at Warsaw is located on the main floor of the High School Building near the front entrance. The 29 fact that these rooms are large and sunny as well as easily acces- sible may account in part for their being visited frequently by the High School teachers, and pupils not taking Vocational work. However, the principal reason for the popularity of these rooms is to be found in the interesting and instructive work done there under the direction of Miss Gretchen Mueller, Vocational Home Economics teacher. After examining an exhibit of posters made by the sophomore Vocational class to illustrate various phases of A Complete Outfit for a Child of Four Years Made by Miss MeCauley of Madison for Her Sister. Garments Are Made from Flour and Sugar Sacks. their housekeeping work, such as labor-saving devices, extermin- ation of household pests, laundry helps, etc., some of the academic teachers remarked that they wished they might have had the opportunity to take such a practical high school course. The girls are making a study of local meat markets, hardware and furniture stores, bakeries, etc. They not only "carry over" into their homes what they learn at school but they take to school what they make at home. After the freshman class learned to make bread in the school laboratory, they held a bread mak- ing contest, making the bread in their homes during one of the "Vocational half days" and later discussing their problems and scoring their products in class. This was followed by a trip to a commercial bakery. The department is in good standing because it has given the entire school an opportunity to learn of the work which it is 30 doing. However, the Vocational pupils will tell you if you in- quire, that in addition to their school work they are privileged to belong to a club, the principal aim of which is to promote good fellowship. This organization is composed of the Voca- tional girls in the two classes and is the means of holding them together as a Vocational unit. Worthington Interest in Vocational Home Economics at Worthington was stimulated in the Spring of 1010 by the enthusiasm of J. K. MeCarter, Snpt. of Schools. Mr. MeCarter believes heartily in the possibilities of the department. He saw the need for the work and visited all of the girls out of school in the community to acquaint them with the opportunities of Vocational training. The response warranted the employment of a Vocational Home Economics teacher and as a result of the combined efforts of the Worthiiigtcm Vocational Home Economics (iiris at Work on the Porch at the Cotta Superintendent, and the Vocational teacher. Miss Ethel Greene, a Vocational class of thirty-eight girls was enrolled the following September. This class is the largest in the State and it is as active as large. Interest in sewing is very keen. The girls take especial inter- est in making garments lor little sisters. Articles made include 31 undergarments, aprons, blouses, and simple dresses. Patching and darning are included in the course and the garments re paired prove the worth of this part of the work. The social side of the work is being developed in a very satis- factory way. The girls not only entertain at school hut make refreshments for parties held in the community. The Home Eco- nomics cottage on the High School grounds affords an excel- lent place for entertainments, a list of which includes: Autumn, indoor picnic for the High School teachers, A Christinas dinner for the Vocational Advisory Com- mittee, A dinner on Valentine's Day for the High School teachers, A St. Patrick's party to which each Vocational pupil invited one guest. Worthin^ton Vocational Home Economics Oirls in Dresses Maile at So One of the most interesting points about this class is that it is about double the size of the ordinary first year High School class and is recruited from girls who had dropped out of school from one to four years before the establishment of the Vocational Home Economics department. Their teacher says that these girls could hardly be forced to stop school now. 32 Plymouth Probably nowhere in the State is there better co-operation between mothers and daughters for the promotion of Vocational Training than in Plymouth. The following is quoted from an article in the Plymouth Repub- lican written by Mrs. S. E. Boys, who is a member of the Voca- tional Advisory Committee. "A Mother's Party" "Years-long it has been the custom for mothers to give parties for their daughters, but it is only in this modern age that it has entered into the minds of daughters to give parties to their mothers. On "Wednesday afternoon the girls of the High School Vocational Home Economics class, taught by Miss Dolly Schlos- ser, played hostess to their mothers at the High School. A gracious committee of three * * * welcomed the guests upon their arrival and ushered them into the sewing room, which by the addition of a few home furnishings, had been transformed into a cheery reception room. Here each guest was introduced to all and kept pleasantly entertained with music and conver- sation until the photographer was announced and everybody lined up in front of the camera and looked pleasant until the signal to relax. Presently the guests were invited into the cooking room where an exhibition of recent needle work done by the girls was artis- tically arranged on walls and tables. Many dainty garments bore witness to the skill which the girls have attained. There were negligee dresses, pajamas, a child's bathrobe, princess slips and various other neatly made and useful articles of clothing. Each was marked with the cost of material. Arranged impressively on several tables was a series of diet demonstrations. A model breakfast was displayed on one end of a table and on the other was a model luncheon. * * * * A most attractive display of dishes made from skim milk illustrated the value of this neglected food product. A salad and dessert exhibit were also very tempting. Under the legend "Use More Milk" was a vivid exhibit of "what one glass of milk equals." The glass of milk stood in the center of the table surrounded by its equivalents. The hostesses served delicious refreshments of cake, coffee, and salad to their guests." Fairmount Miss Charline McClure, Vocational Home Economics teacher in the Fairmonnt High School, lias aroused considerable interest in garment making among her vocational pupils. After each girl learned how to sew, the class began to work on factory prin- ciples with division of labor to acquire speed. Undergarments were made to order. Much interest was shown in this work and in the preparation for an apron sale. The girls are reported as having "become good judges of materials, and their selections show improvement in quality and design of materials." rinrfholomew Girls Win in State Demonstration Contest at Stale Fair. Star City Star City has proved through the interest shown by the girls and young women of the town and township that All-Day and Evening Vocational classes in Home Economics can be main- tained to advantage in a rural community. In writing of the school cafeteria, one of the outstanding features of the Day Vocational work. Miss Tressia Vandivier, Vocational Home Economics teacher says, "There is much dif- ference between teaching girls to cook in order that it may be seen that they can cook and teaching them to cook food that is nutritious and palatable for their friends, and classmates." 35 From sixly to ninety pupils are served a hot lunch daily while the lunch room course is being given. The servings cost three cents each; thus for fifteen cents may be obtained a satisfying meal of milk, bread and butter, two vegetables, and fruit or cake. This school claims Uiat the Vocational Home Economics de- partment provides an opportunity for the girls "To make them- selves efficient in the things necessary to congenial, happy and prosperous homes." Is it any wonder that Star City and Van- buren Township are giving enthusiastic and unanimous approval and encouragement to this department. PART II Club Members at the State Fair Club work was better represented at the 1919 state fair than at any previous fair. In addition to the usual club display held in the Oliver Building a state demonstration team contest for girls was staged. Fair visitors had the privilege of watching Sam Tomlison of Shelbyville, Winner in State Fair Poland China Class for Juniors club girls make garments, can fruits, vegetables and meats, and bake bread. The sewing team from Bartholomew County com- posed of Hazel Holder, Laura Kissling, Elizabeth Schaffer and Ada Newby, showed remarkable proficiency in making and ex- plaining the value of the club apron and won the handsome pennant awarded to the winning team. This team, however, was closely pressed by teams from Hendricks and Parke Counties. Any description of the State Fair would be incomplete without mention of the pigs exhibited by the boys and girls. They over- flowed the swine pens and an entire day was given to making the awards. The Big Type Polands led in number of entries 37 Boone's Daisy, Junior Champion Guernsey Calf at Indiana State Pair Exhibited by Robert and Carl Nelson of Lebanon, Both Calf Club Members. '•"" ■■■-'" "iji A 1>^ ., ^ j^E"* "^^^^^^^^k Jl" :. m ■ tot f - s- .' fl! - 'H*fS£- wr- ' >v jfc. ■ ■: a^BS ' *'-flT' *• ; . j$? | ~* 2 f '>*/ ff^ 1 . .-/ : : ■'. **■" • * '■ i' * .-■" - "~ .:V'. Champion Dorset Horn Ram at Indiana State Fair Shown by James Kellerman, a Sheep Club Member. with I'S trim, well fed pigs, followed by the Spotted Polands and Duroc Jersey breeds, each class having 2(> pigs exhibited. The Berkshires and Chester "White classes were smaller but full of quality. Prizes amounting to -SU00.00 were distributed to the boys and girls. A noteworthy feature of the show was that the boys showing gilts in most instances were not the sons of estab- lished breeders. That these boys can produce pi^s of quality is Carlton Ilnvworth. Matthews, Winner in Dutiic Clas lie Refused fliun for His < Jilt. at Slate Fai- shown by the fact that one of the pigs won a junior champion- ship when exliibited in the open classes and another later in the season won a blue ribbon at the International Livestock Show. It is thought that the boys and girls' pigs will always be a feature of the State Fair and later arrangements will be made for classes for cattle and sheep. The pig show for 1920 will be at least twice as large as last year. Club members wen 1 not only given a chance to exhibit their prize animals at the fair but were also given an opportunity to display their skill in judging livesloek. Thirty-three county teams in addition to 152 individual contestants entered the con- test. Careful preliminary work had been in progress through- out the summer months. Two hundred and ninety-five demon- strations had been held with an average attendance of fourteen, and ninety-seven judging contests with an average attendance of eighteen. In the team competition Clinton County won hrst place, Carroll second, Henry third, with Blackford fourth, (learald Clamson of Carroll County won a -If 100 scholarship for making highest individual score. Claroneo Million of White County wilh Lady I'rowpeet Winner of ;i Junior Cham- pionship at the State Fail- of 3 ill !> . The (iilt Later Sold fur .ffiTo.OO. 40 Club Members At the International The club round-up held at Purdue will always be the mecca for Indiana club winners, but the International Livestock and Grain Show is rapidly claiming the attention of our youthful stockmen. This year one hundred fifty-two enthusiastic youngsters made the trip to Chicago where they were banqueted and entertained during the week. The great packing companies such as Wilson Harry Griffin, Cass County, and His Gilt Which Won a Blue Ribbon at the International Livestock Show. and Company, and Armour and Company, went as far as was possible in turning over the keys of Chicago to the group of Indiana sight-seers. At a banquet staged by Wilson and Company, Thomas E. Wilson, President of the Company, said: "Sometimes, I think, youngsters do not fully appreciate the big things they are doing. I have not forgotten, in the slightest, that I once was a boy, and when I look back, considering present conditions, I wish that I might have had some of the opportunities which you have today." State Club Winners Visit Niagara Following the custom established six years ago the state club winners were given a sight-seeing tour of one week's duration. Indianapolis, Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Detroit were visited during the third week in January. It is a common impression that it is unfortunate to see Niagara Falls during the winter rather than the summer. In this the youthful sight-seers will not agree. Their impressions can best be learned from reading a Preston Moody, Steuben County. Sets a New Record for Indiana Corn Yields His Acre Yielded 147.3 Bushels. quotation from Gilbert May, one of the party. He says in his story of the trip: "We were all very anxious to see the falls, so as soon as the niotorman drove up to the American Falls and stopped we leaped out of the car, ran down the little slope, which led to the bottom of the cataract and looked up to see the won- derful falls which we had heard so much about. There they were and they surely were not deceiving. In fact no picture or description can give them the beauty and alarming sight which 43 they really possess. At the American Falls you see a great tor- rent of water pouring off of a smooth even-edged rock. It keeps pouring a steady flow of water that is apparently still, though over two million gallons of water pour over it every second." At Detroit the Ford Plant was visited, as was also the home of the "Detroit News," the greatest newspaper plant in the world. Preston Moody's Corn field. But the thing that impressed the party the most was Detroit itself, Detroit a city of the new age, with broad streets, splendid new homes, happy, contented workmen, the men in the shops, the women in the homes and the children in school. The party re- ceived the utmost courtesy everywhere. Some of the winners were disappointed at first that the trip was not to be the usual one to Washington, D. O., but when the end came all voted that they were leaving the party with absolutely no regrels. This boy had time for club work. ,4 Jfo, 6?y ''-'J 2» f % / This boy was too busy because he had to help father. 45 PART III Short Visits With Indiana Club Leaders Miss Reba J. Smith, vocational teacher in Domestic Science in the Greensburg High School, tells the following interesting story of her canning club experience: "In the canning club I found most striking examples of how parents have been won over to believe in the work. I urged several girls to make their work experimental by canning a quantity by the open-kettle method and a like amount by the cold-pack method and to make a compari- son to determine which method was most satisfactory. How pleas- ant it was to have the parents voluntarily say : 'It is surprising how much better the new method is, which Helen learned at the canning club, and how simple it is.' I think I shall always use il, especially for tomatoes for mine always break up so when can- ned by the old method. Corn so difficult to keep is no longer an impossibility and I keep hearing how satisfactory the corn is when canned by the cold-pack method.' One mother has de- cided to always process her preserves and jams a few minutes before sealing. I might continue indefinitely along this line." A commendable plan of rewarding achievement members has been tried successfully by Etta Maas Hoffstadt of Madison. Each member finishing and reporting her project is given a season ticket to the Chautauqua. This plan of rewarding each achieve- ment member is deserving of trial in many club localities. In Tipton County a series of ice cream suppers were given to raise club funds and to advertise the work of the county. The home demonstration agent reported that community spirit was aroused at the same time. In this county a county club picnic was held. Swimming, games, and contests formed part of the entertainment. A club song for each township was written by the home demonstration agent as well as a county song. A con- test between townships in singing and yelling gave zest to the meeting. Talks by club leaders and a marshmellow toast around the campfire closed the big event of the year for Tipton County's young people. Virginia Turner, first prize winner in the Jefferson County Sewing Club, was told four years ago by a sewing teacher that 47 she was hopeless in sewing and would never learn. This child thru the club work has developed into a skillful worker. She has excellent judgment in the selection of materials, patterns and colors. She does all her own shopping and knows a bargain when she sees it. She has her own ideas and knows what is becoming to her and does not mind how much work she has to do to secure the results she desires. In one community in Hendricks County the club members were quite scattered, so much that it was hard for them to meet in each other's homes. A kind hearted person donated the use of an old house. The girls scrubbed the floors and cleaned up generally. Then the mothers became interested and donated chairs, couches, tables, until the old house became a cozy club house. They held meetings every two weeks. One afternoon the girls entertained their mothers at tea. One of the baking girls demonstrated how to bake quick breads, and another demonstrated the judging of a loaf of bread. Then the mothers became contestants in a judging contest staged by the girls who offered a bread pan as a prize. A very successful sale was held this year by the Montieello Junior Poland China Breeders' Association composed of pig club members of three and four years' standing. An elaborate catalogue was issued and advertising space contracted for in a leading farm journal. The boys used their knowledge of man- ual training to fit up an old feed barn into a modern sales pavil- ion. The average of over seventy dollars for each animal was very satisfactory to the young owners, since most of the offerings con- sisted of young gilts. One exceptional gilt brought six hundred and seventy-five dollars. To hold a successful pig club sale is quite difficult. The success of this sale can be attributed to a strong club organization, worthy foundation stock of popular blood lines, careful culling of the offerings, and judicious adver- tising. All records were broken in Indiana Corn Club for 1919. Pres- ton Moody, age 13, of Steuben County, produced 147.:i bushels of corn (moisture test basis). Other yields of over l.">0 bushels were secured. Young Moody's phenomenal yield was produced on muck-loam soil well fertilized and manured. He had a per- 48 pect stand, with a stalk every nine inches. Corn club contest- ants are finding that fields of exceptional fertility will produce record yields if corn is planted either thicker in the row than usual or with the rows closer than is the common practice of planting. Not only were individual records established in the corn club but a new club record was established as well. The Blooming- ton Corn Club, H. V. Skeel, supervisor, enrolled seven members, Potato Club Members of Matthews applying Bordeaux with Sprayer Outfit Assembled by the Boys. Otis Calvin, Vocational Teacher. each of whom finished. Four of the seven produced over 100 bushels on their acres and the average yield for the seven acres was 101 .3 bushels. This unsurpassed record merits careful atten- tion from club leaders who will be interested in Mr. Skeel's ac- count of his work: "I gave each boy a bulletin on seed corn selection and one on disease-free seed corn. I went with the boys into their fields almost every time I visited them. If for any reason they could not go I made it a special point to visit the field and then talk to them about the things I had observed. When cultivation came I gave each boy a bulletin on corn culti- vation. I suggested topics for each one to read and later ques- tioned them in an informal way about cultivation. 49 We went into each field and selected one hundred of the most nearly perfect stalks of corn. We tied a string just above each ear selected. I notified the boys when I would visit them to assist in marking the corn, weather permitting, and every boy was ready and waiting. The father of each boy was interested in this work. I made it very clear to the boys and parents when en- rollment was taken that all I wanted was the boy's time. 1 tried to meet every complaint with a suggestion of something to try out before the next visit. Poultry Club Exhibit at Veeclersburg Township Fair. I placed the entire responsibility of the success of the club upon each individual boy. I also explained that there was no prize to be offered. The prize was to be the very best yield that could be produced. Last but not least was my insistence upon their honesty in the records they were keeping. I attempted to have some point to enter in the records each time I visited them.'' A successful co-operation between a poultry club and a com- mercial hatchery was effected last year by vocational teacher N. I. Clunie of Harrison County. Eggs from pure bred flocks were furnished by the hatchery. The club member and parents agreed 50 to keep only one breed of poultry. Eggs produced from this stock were bought by the hatchery at an advance of Ave cents per dozen over the market price. Two ends were thus furthered, the keep- ing of purebred stock and the furnishing of a good market for the product. The Hendricks' County Club Outing held under the direction of Pansy I. Norton, Home Demonstration Agent, was greatly appre- ciated by the two hundred girls in attendance. The use of a vacated house was secured for a few days and the party was orga- nized along the lines of a military camp. The cooking was done Line-up of Baby Beeves at Fountain County Fair. in the open. Each girl brought a dozen eggs, three or four slices of meat and donated twenty-five cents towards a fund for purchasing the rest of the food materials. Each day there were special calisthenics given for the benefit of the girls. Accord ing to the home demonstration agent the camp did more than any one thing to arouse club enthusiasm. The girls have agreed to be responsible for club enrollment next year. Club work in St. Joseph County has been developed with closer co-operation with the schools of the county than perhaps any county in the state. School teachers act as paid local super- visors. School credit has been given boys and girls deserving same, with the direct result that all members are encouraged to complete their projects. Another device used by St. Joseph 51 County to encourage completion of projects is a bronze achieve- ment medal. These are awarded publicly at a county meeting called for the purpose. Liberal prizes stimulate the best quality of work while the social demands of the youngsters are cared for by club meetings and picnics. That club work will prosper under such a comprehensive plan is shown by the fact that St. Joseph County has shown a steady gain in completed projects for the past five years. Night classes for young farmers are quite popular where tried by vocational teachers. John A. Fletcher of the Metz Vocational school conducted a night school with an average attendance of twenty-five. A. T. Marvel of Pendleton has conducted two very successful night schools. He reports that it is the best means of securing community co-operation that he has ever tried. At these meetings lectures are not attempted and the informal dis- cussions, demonstrations, and laboratory work hold interest of the members. A Few Friends of Club and Vocational Work Have Their Say "When a checking revealed the fact that over $25,000 was the value of 11)19 Club Work nearly all opposition was quieted. 1920 enrollment is very satisfactory." Guy A. Waldrip, County Supt of Schools, Fountain County. "We are certainly very proud of the showing in a practical way of the work of the students in the Vocational Class of the Auburn High School. The boys are quick to make application of principles taught and parents of the farm boys especially appreciate the value of the training that their sons are receiving. There are splendid possibilities for the future of American Agri- culture through vocational training." A. Z. Arehart, County Agent, DeKalb County. "Another club year for Parke County has practically come and gone, but tucked away in our memories we have many pleasant 53 thoughts of the splendid work that was done by our girls, and of the good that is sure to come from such work." Mrs. Myrtle I. Codlings., Volunteer Leader, Parke County. "Vocational work is a great advantage in any community. It creates interest in the boys, has its influence to keep the boys on the farm, and make good, prosperous farmers of them." Ben H. Banta, Township Trustee, Hanover Township, Jefferson County. "Supervised club work educates the boy or girl through the doing of the thing, not simply reading or talking about it.'' Floyd M. Annis, County Supt. of Schools, Marshall County. "The most important work that has ever been done to keep the boys on the farm and to establish a permanent agriculture is the club and vocational work." L. M. Vogler, Pres. Indiana Corn Growers' Association, Hope, Indiana. "Club work is our one best medium of getting in touch with the boys and girls who will become leaders tomorrow." Ktjssell G. East, County Agent, Shelbyville, Indiana. "The work which our vocational agriculture class is doing is having a wholesome effect upon our community. Farmers fre- quently ask for suggestions from the class." Supt. Orville M. Craig, Bremen Schools. "In the beginning our vocational department required careful nursing to keep it going. The work was experimental in the beginning, but the experience of a few years has brought about such changes that it is certainly destined to prove a vital service to the county. We now have thirty all-time vocational students 54 enrolled and they are certainly doing some excellent work. Their work is being felt throughout the community." Supt. Elmer C. Jerjiax, Greensburg, Indiana. "The efforts of the Indiana Horticultural Society to interest boys and girls in orchard club work will continue. The club workers of today are orchardists of tomorrow.'' H. H. Swain, Secretary Indiana Horticultural Society. "The work in vocational agriculture is filling a long felt need in Scott County. The boys, and parents, too, are very much inter- ested in the home projects, and are getting results which mean much for the future of agriculture in this county." W. L. Craig, Superintendent of City Schools, Scottsburg, Indiana. "I have been a teacher for years and have attended all kinds of educational meetings, but the one that impressed me most was the vocational and club conference held at Purdue. I never knew before how valuable this line of work is to our children." AY. L. (iARLIC, Township Trustee, Madison County. "A club worth while must have a goal to reach, must reach it. and that goal must be high enough that the satisfaction of achievement is experienced when it is attained." B. V. Wiuxey, County Agent, Noble County. "The influence and example of the Sullivan County clubs have stimulated and aroused not only other boys and girls but men and women, as well, to greater and more scientific methods of work." Richard Park, County Supt. of Schools, Sullivan Countv. 55 Good Words From Our Club Members This year will be my last year in club work, since I am now eighteen, but I will still be with the work in mind and spirit. I hope club work will help all club members as it has helped me. I hope to attend many of the club meetings this coining year. Thomas Brock. man, Bartholomew County. How to win the contest? Oh! how I wish I did know. But to be successful in any undertaking one must possess an ambi- tion to succeed, good management, a love of nature, and a know- ledge of how to do the right thing at the right time. Paul Holcroi-t, Madison County. Through all my work in raising my corn I have found the best way to win a contest is to, Hang on, cling on, no matter what they say, Push on, sing on, things will come your way Sitting down and whining never helps a bit, Best way to get there is by keeping up your grit. Gilbert May, Lawrence County. The best way to win is by hard work from beginning to end. Charles Clajime, Jr., Blackford County. When the news came to my home that I was winner, I was so overjoyed that the house would hardly hold me and I am not very large either. There was great rejoicing among my friends and relatives. Pauline Henderson, Tipton County. Sometimes you find boys and girls who say project work is too much hard work, but any boy or girl can make work a pleasure if they try. Lydia Hawblitzel, St. Joseph County. 56 I enjoyed every minute of my trip to Niagara and am going to try to win another prize. Jambs Maxwell, Union County. Altho' I cannot win I do not count my summer's work spent in vain, for I have learned many things about feeding which I did not know before and I have bettered myself financially. It never pays to give up. Washington in Sixteen Chicago in Seventeen Purdue in Eighteen, and Home in Nineteen. Carl Songer, Fountain Countv. ^™^iftj^>r